Fear and Loathing the SAT in Fairfield County

Imagine one test that predicts either your life’s failure, or your life’s bountiful future.  Imagine one test that determines your opportunities and your ultimate happiness.  What would that test look like?

To some—mainly those high school juniors and seniors—that test is the SAT.  Now to those who are older, we know that test does not exist.  But the above mindset is exactly how some high school students view the SAT. Can you imagine how crippling those thoughts may be?  It is for that exact reason that they FEAR AND LOATHE THE SAT.

Overestimating the SAT can cause test anxiety, lack of motivation to even begin test prepping, and ultimately poor performance.  Here are a few tips to overcome that fear and loathing so many students carry.

1.  The SAT is one component of many when colleges consider applicants.  Yes, the SAT is an objective barometer by which all students are judged, but you also have your school grades, extracurricular activities, your personal story, and other various talents, i.e., music, sports, business or military experience

2.  The SAT is not an IQ test.  You can prepare for the test and improve your chances of doing well.  While the SAT touts itself as an aptitude test, it can be studied for.  There are tricks and hints that will help you improve your score.  In fact, those who do not actively prepare for the SAT by learning and applying the best practices for the test are not doing justice to their potential scores.  Students who practice on their own usually score higher than they would have had they not studied at all, but the students who truly maximize their scores are those who receive high quality guidance and prep from an expert tutor.

3.  Test anxiety is natural.  You are not alone.  But what is more, you can turn your test anxiety into improved performance.  For example, let that anxiety get in the way of your motivation and desire to prep for the test, and you will perform poorly.  Turn your anxiety into energy and motivation, prep for the exam, and then channel your anxiety (energy) and preparedness on test day and you will perform better.

4.  Your SAT score does not determine your future.  It helps, no doubt.  A high score on the SAT increases your chances of getting into a top school, which obviously provides great opportunities, but you must achieve and you must put in the hard work.  Just as there are a multitude of factors that determine your college candidacy, so too are there many factors that determine your life success and happiness.

Put the SAT in its rightful perspective and do away with the fear and loathing.  From there, do your best to prep and master the SAT.  Turn the SAT into a stepping stone to a better day.

The Learning Consultants Group offers personalized SAT prep.  You can find more about our teaching philosophy and offerings here: SAT Prep Fairfield County CT.